[SKRIZ]

I set up a 10g tank with one peice of LR (@2lbs) aobut a month ago. Other than that I have a hermit crab. I have been out of town and when I saw the tank today, there are a bunch of little white bugs swimming around and on the glass. they are really small. what are they? are they good/bad?

[tubs]

They're good chief and are a normal part of a tank coming along the way. Seems that once a tank get's through an initial cycle there's an explosion of those amphipods/copepods. After a while though you'll see a reduction in numbers probably because of a more balanced supply/demand of their food and predation by fish and more established corals.

These are the kinds of animals that folks want to encourage when setting up refugiums. They're an essential part of food cycle in helping break down micro algae and leftovers and also themselves provide food for fish and corals.

[SKRIZ]

sweet!

[skipm]

I just thought that I would point out that these (amphipods and coepods) are the main items that we are after when we buy detritavore kits, the other main component being worms. Skip

[ravenmore]

yep - you will probably start to notice all kinds of little critters (called fauna when referred to as a group). You will probably notice bristle worms before too long. These are among the most beneficial animals you can have in your tank - don't let anyone else tell you otherwise.